This weekend, don't get chilly -- get chili!

Once Over Lightly

Have anything to do this weekend, before it's time to sit down and watch the Super Bowl? You could spend most of your time surveying the state of chili in the Lehigh Valley!

First, timewise, Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville is hosting its Seventh annual Super Bowl Saturday event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cooking crew there, consisting of Dave Sweeney and Mike Barber, will enhance their very different chili recipes with Vynecrest wines.

Sweeney makes his Extra Spicy Beef and Bean Chili with Vynecrest Chambourcin, while Barber pours Vynecrest Traminette into his White Bean Chicken Chili. A vegetarian chili also will be available.

There'll be free samples of the three kinds of chili and wine tastings. Copies of the recipes will be available in case anyone wants to make either chili for their Super Bowl parties.

Because Vynecrest has opened its Vyneskeller, this also is the first year guests will be able to buy bowls of chili and wine by the glass. And while you're there, check out the winery's annual Super Bowl contest that has a $100 Vynecrest Winery Gift Card for first prize. For more information and a complete listing of 2008 events, check out www.Vynecrest.com

Chili cook-off

Next, head for Emmaus, where the third annual Best in Show Chili Cook-Off is being staged from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Fiesta Ole, 1116 Chestnut St. It's a benefit for the American Cancer Society, sponsored by The Relay for Life of Macungie.

Stop in, taste all of the chilis and vote for your favorite one. Tickets are $6 per person in advance and $8 at the door. In addition to the sampling that'll be going on, Fiesta Ole will be open and selling food and beverages throughout the day.

Take a breather and some Alka-Seltzer. The next chili contest isn't till Sunday.

I've judged this contest before. The competition is heated among the chefs who square off in the back dining room. They spoon up an incredible variety of chilis. This year, more than 20 restaurants will be represented.

And the fun part is that you get to have a role in the judging. When you pay your $5 admission fee, you'll also get to vote for the People's Choice Award. The event will benefit the Easton Main Street Initiative.

Other Super Bowl food ideas

If you are interested in some last-minute food ideas for your Super Bowl parties, here are some recipes that have been gleaned from the mail sent to the Food department.

SUPERBOWL SLIDERS

1 lb. ground beef

1 package mini buns

2 Tbsps. butter or margarine

4 ozs. button mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 large scallions, sliced

1 shallot, minced

1 cup of Carlo Rossi merlot

Green leaf lettuce

Salt, pepper to taste

Shape about 3 tablespoons of ground beef into a 1-inch thick patty, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining mixture. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook. Melt butter in a skillet and add mushrooms, scallions and shallot. Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally; add Carlo Rossi Merlot and simmer. Grill burgers to preferred doneness. Place each burger on miniature bun with lettuce and top with mushroom mixture. Makes 16.